Chapter 8: United
Smoke, Hanzo, Kenshi and Shujinko looked at Shang Tsung. "Tell me what you know of the new tournament." Shujinko told Shang Tsung. The sorcerer recognized Shujinko as a younger man who beat the sorcerer in kombat a few years before. Shang Tsung assumed the role of Mileena, Kitana's clone, whom Shujinko shared a passionate night with years before. "I will devour your bones." Shang Tsung said in Mileena's voice. Shujinko conjured Raiden's style immidiately. He shocked Mileena before taking her out with several combo's defeating her/Shang Tsung instantly. "I will not fall to your illusions sorcerer." Shujinko told Shang Tsung. Shujinko remembered several years before when Mileena was apart of Shao Kahn's assassins to overtake a city in Outworld and she trained him, they spent an intimate night together leaving Shujinko with a love struck ultimatum. "You will never win. Shao Kahn grows stronger with every monk killed." Shang Tsung said with a laugh. Smoke had enough, he kicked the sorcerer in the face knocking him out.
Smoke started feeling pains out of nowhere, he felt like he was being punched. Suddenly Sektor appeared "Smoke, you disobey the Lin Kuei. You shall be converted." Sektor told him before appearing. Cyrax appeared too, for Shujinko. Shujinko left the order years ago, but was still Lin Kuei. The two engaged in kombat against the cyber ninjas and fought well, Smoke and Shujinko defeated the robots in a few moves. After the fight, Smoke looked at Sektor. "I will never submit." He told him. "I am much too skilled to be a robot." Shujinko told Cyrax after their encounter. The two cyborgs disappeared into a mist of darkness. The two looked at each other. "I never knew you were a Lin Kuei." Smoke stated. "I trained in my youth, and even further I defeated an entire assassin's guild from the Shiriai Ryu." Shujinko told Smoke." Smoke bowed. "Truly, you are the one spoken of in legend, the warrior who can take on skills from warriors." Smoke said. "Indeed I am." Shujinko replied.
Several Lin Kuei Cyborgs appeared in front of Smoke and Shujinko, they started to use their energy to transport the two to the temple for transformation. Liu Kang and Johnny Cage appeared, Liu Kang used his powers to dispatch of the cyborgs. Sektor disappeared. Liu Kang approached Smoke and Shujinko, Kenshi and Hanzo followed suit. "Are you two okay?" Liu Kang asked. "We are fine Lord Liu Kang." Shujinko replied. Shujinko had a run in with Liu Kang years before, after Liu Kang had shown Shujinko his deceptive quest. The younger mortal challenged the fire god in kombat, Liu Kang obliged. After Shujinko lost he learned that Liu Kang was telling the truth and abandoned his quest to partake a different quest and become a sensei under the White Lotus Society. "Good, you two have more work to do." Liu Kang told them. "How can I help?" Hanzo asked. "Guard them. Your skills can come in handy." Liu Kang replied. Hanzo bowed to the fire god and his allies.
Outworld Depths
Sub-Zero and Tundra found a way out, they walked up the ramp and to the exit. "Bi-Han, I know we are in agreement against the Cyber Initiative. But this will disobey the wishes of our ancestors. They Sub-Zeros before us who wished that we'd stay loyal to the Lin Kuei." Tundra told Sub-Zero. "If the Lin Kuei wants to turn us into robots, it is our duty to disobey. Didn't our grandfather Sub-Zero tell us to rebel when necessary?" Sub-Zero asked Tundra. "I supposed he did. Lead on brother." Tundra replied. Jade approached the brothers. "You made it this far, you will stray no further." She told them. The cryomancer brothers readied for kombat.
Jade swung her staff at Tundra, he dodged and Sub-Zero threw an ice ball. The cryomacer brothers both attacked her, she was helpless against the brother's attacks. Jade tried to hold her own against the brother's attacks but it proved to be too much. Jade gave in under their combined might, and she conceded under their spell. "Okay, we've had enough." Jade told them. "You return to your emperor, we have other matters to attend to." Sub-Zero told Jade. Jade picked up her staff and ventured off, Tundra looked at his older brother. "A lot of hostility. We must tread carefully." Tundra told Sub-Zero. The brothers walked out of the depths and trekked through Outworld, the brothers ancestors came to Earthrealm from Outworld ages before. "This is the motherland Bi-Han, the first Sub-Zero came from Outworld. When we get time, we should visit the ice caves." Kuai Liang told Bi-Han. "There will be time enough, one day soon brother. Not today." Bi-Han replied.
Shao Kahn's Palace
Li Jing admired the sure beauty of an otherwise repulsive and sinister world, the palace was actually a prestigious site. She was no longer dressed in her undergarments, now she wore a purple attire that resembled Jade's with the difference only being color. Shao Kahn was not present, he had gone to his courtyard to watch the first round of the tournament. Guards stood around, one in particular was the head guard and general of Shao Kahn's army. Ko'tal, he was a gigantic being of tall stature, good posture, and great physique. Ko'tal and Jade were united under Outworld marriage laws, due to his place as Shao Kahn's right hand Jade was given the place as Kitana's guardian. He approached Li Jing. "You are lucky, I half expected the emperor to dispatch of you in the dungeon. You must be something special." Ko'tal told Li Jing. "I don't know what he has planned. After the torture, then the…incident. He has me worried." Li Jing replied.
Shao Kahn's Throneroom
Liu Kang, Jax, Sonya, and Johnny Cage stood in the shadows. Shao Kahn sat at his throne and Shang Tsung stood at his right side. "This is the new Mortal Kombat tournament. If Earthrealm loses this tournament, Outworld will claim Earthrealm for it's own." Shang Tsung told the Outworld Kombatants. Jax stood there listening, Liu Kang looked at him. "Make your presence known, you are the one to start the tournament." Liu Kang told him. "Okay." Jax replied. Jax walked out of the shadows and onto the mat. "Let's start the show!" Jax shouted as he approached Shao Kahn. "Mr. Briggs." Shang Tsung said. "That's Major, you fuckface." Jax replied. "Baraka. You will face 'Major' Briggs in the first round." Shang Tsung told Baraka. Baraka jumped onto the mat, Jax looked at him. "Damn you ugly." Jax told Baraka. "My blades will find your heart." Baraka replied. Baraka's blades extended from his arms, Jax got into stance and they readied for kombat.
Baraka charged at Jax, the soldier grabbed Baraka by his neck and started punching him in the face before throwing him face first on the ground. Jax stomped the back of Baraka's head and stepped back. The tarkaten withdrew his blades and put his fists up. "C'mon." He told Jax. Jax ran at Baraka in an attemp to throw an overhead haymaker. Baraka punched Jax in the face, before extending his blade and attempting to pierce Jax's skull. Jax dodged Baraka's attempt and delivered three left jabs, four right jabs, three hooks, followed by an uppercut which finished the fight. "You shouldn't be running with those." Jax told the fallen Baraka, motioning towards the Tarkaten's blades. Shang Tsung looked at Jax "Your next opppnent will be…" Shang Tsung tried to say before Reptile tapped on his shoulder. "What is it?" Shang Tsung asked. Reptile whispered in Shang Tsung's ear. "Excellent." Shang Tsung replied. Shang Tsung faced the Tarkaten crowd. "With the emperor's permission, we will reconvene later." Shang Tsung told the crowd. Shao Kahn raised his hand in approval.
Shang Tsung teleported into his flesh pits. There stood the clone Mileena, she wore her revealing pink attire. "Shang Tsung…She is ready." Mileena told Shang Tsung. The two walked through the flesh pits, where clones of Mileena in giant tanks filled the area. Laying on a table was a clone of Li Jing, perfect in every way. She was a clone of Li Jing and Mileena, this clone didn't have the Tarkaten Features that Mileena had. This clone was an exact duplicate of Li Jing. Shang Tsung looked at this creation and smiled. "Excellent. I will call her Daiyu." Shang Tsung used his sorcery to breathe life into Daiyu. The clone gasped and looked around. Shang Tsung looked at Mileena with malicious intent in his eyes, he sucked Mileena's soul out of her body. Her lifeless corpse fell and turned to dust upon hitting the ground. He then combined Mileena's soul with the souls of other warriors and put them into Daiyu. Daiyu suddenly looked around, she smiled in an evil way. "You will rest until your time comes. I have plans for you." Shang Tsung told Daiyu. She nodded before laying back down on the table.